December Zodiac Sign
Revised . First published .
Your December zodiac sign is Sagittarius from December 1 through 21 and Capricorn from December 22 through 31. The exact changeover moves between December 21 and December 22 because the Sun enters Capricorn at a slightly different hour each year. We explain how that calendar shift works and how astrologers read the 2 signs.
- ♐ Sagittarius
- December 1 to 21
- ♑ Capricorn
- December 22 to 31
- Cusp dates
- December 21 and 22
December dates for Sagittarius and Capricorn
A birthday from December 1 through December 20 gives you a Sagittarius Sun sign. On your birth date, the Sun occupied a 30° slice of sky. That slice is your Sun sign. In the first weeks of December, the Sun crosses Sagittarius at about 1° per day. Just before the winter solstice, it arrives at 29°59′ Sagittarius.
After the Sun crosses 0°00′ Capricorn, all births through December 31 fall under a Capricorn Sun sign. There's no need to check your birth clock for a birthday between December 23 and December 31. At that point, the Sun has moved several degrees into Capricorn. The hour and time zone of your birth are only needed for December 21 or December 22 birthdays.
Each year, the Sun's entry into Capricorn
| Year | Sun enters Capricorn |
|---|---|
| 2020 | December 21, 5:02 AM EST |
| 2021 | December 21, 10:59 AM EST |
| 2022 | December 21, 4:47 PM EST |
| 2023 | December 21, 10:27 PM EST |
| 2024 | December 21, 4:20 AM EST |
| 2025 | December 21, 10:03 AM EST |
| 2026 | December 21, 3:50 PM EST |
| 2027 | December 21, 9:42 PM EST |
| 2028 | December 21, 3:20 AM EST |
| 2029 | December 21, 9:14 AM EST |
| 2030 | December 21, 3:09 PM EST |
| 2031 | December 21, 8:55 PM EST |
What makes the December sign changeover shift from year to year?
A regular year on your wall calendar has 365 days. In fact, Earth needs about 365 days and 6 hours to make 1 full orbit around the Sun. Those extra 6 hours mean the Sun reaches 0°00′ Capricorn about 6 hours later in each December. This yearly delay can move the changeover from December 21 to December 22.
Every 4 years, February 29 gives the calendar an extra day, pulling it back and keeping the seasons in place. The Sun enters 0°00′ Capricorn on December 21 at 3:50 PM EST in 2026. In 2027, the same moment falls at 9:42 PM EST, and London already reads December 22 at 2:42 AM.
Shared traits and differences of Sagittarius and Capricorn
Astrologers consider these 2 neighboring signs opposites in pace and style. Sagittarius belongs to the mutable fire signs. Mutable means that a sign closes a season and adapts quickly. Astrologers say a Sagittarius is direct, curious and restless. Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign that starts winter, so astrologers view it as steady, cautious and structured.
Despite their differences, the 2 December signs have strong common ground in traditional astrology. The 2 signs both look far ahead instead of getting caught up in small daily drama. Astrologers say Sagittarius and Capricorn both love honesty, independence and competence. Sagittarius chases big ideas, while Capricorn builds lasting results. Astrologers also point to a dry sense of humor that both signs share.
Common questions from people
Can a cusp birthday give you 2 December signs?
A cusp is the boundary between 2 zodiac signs. At birth, chart calculation places your Sun at either 29°59′ Sagittarius or 0°00′ Capricorn because the Sun can't straddle that line. You could still relate to the neighboring sign, since Mercury or Venus often sits next door. Astrologers say this blends those 2 signs.
What planets govern the 2 December zodiac signs?
Jupiter is assigned to Sagittarius, and Saturn to Capricorn, by both traditional and modern astrologers. Within astrology, Saturn represents time, limits and steady effort, while Jupiter represents expansion, luck and big questions. Astrologers reading a birth chart treat these 2 ruling planets as partners, since Jupiter inspires a plan while Saturn builds it.
How do you find your December sign without knowing your birth time?
Only people born on the day their Sun changed signs in their birth year need an exact birth time. First, find the hour in your local time zone when the Sun reached 0°00′ Capricorn that year. Should the changeover happen at 11:30 PM, your sign is very likely Sagittarius. Otherwise, ordering a full birth certificate is an option through the vital records office in your county.